Susan Perry, a former nurse practitioner who faced 13 federal charges in a more than $400 million compound pharmacy scheme, was sentenced Thursday to 3½ years in prison.

She also was ordered to pay $1.37 million in restitution related to the scheme that defrauded the government and health insurance companies. She also must serve three years of supervised release.

"This is not a victimless crime," U.S. District Judge Keith Starrett said. "Many people are affected by this in addition to the taxpayers. This wouldn't have happened if you didn't do what you did."

Starrett said even though she had led an exemplary life before getting involved in the scheme, she needed to accept responsibility for her crime.

"This was not an innocent mistake," he said. "This was an intentional act that you benefitted from. We all do something we are ashamed of, but this was something you knew was improper. It was a crime committed for money."

She pleaded guilty in June to one count of conspiracy to defraud health benefits providers, including TRICARE.

Perry asked Starrett to have mercy on her before she was sentenced. Much of her plea was inaudible through her sobs.

“I have great remorse and regret for my involvement in this case,” she said. "I've lost my ability to practice medicine and help people, which is what I was trained to do. Even though it's an embarrassment, I still have family and friends who support me.

"I'm ready to put this behind me so I and my family can move on with our lives."

The conviction carried a sentence of up to 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine.

Perry, one of 12 people charged in connection to the case, was indicted Oct. 18, 2017. The 13 counts of the indictment included one count attempt and conspiracy; four counts fraud by wire, radio or television; one count conspiracy to distribute a controlled substance; one count distributing, selling or dispensing a controlled substance; one count conspiracy to defraud the U.S. government; four counts payment to a non-licensed physician; and one count statements or entries generally (making false claims or statements).

By pleading guilty, which she did under a plea agreement with the government, the remainder of the charges against Perry have been dropped.

The government contends that because of Perry's actions, $1,375,692 was fraudulently reimbursed to Advantage Pharmacy by the health benefits providers, including TRICARE, a government agency.

In exchange for expected kickbacks, Perry was accused of signing prescription forms and authorizing automatic refills for expensive compounded medications, which were not scientifically evaluated for effectiveness or individualized patient needs, allegedly at the urging of a drug marketing company in Hattiesburg. Some of the medications included ketamine, a controlled substance.

The prescriptions were filled at Advantage Pharmacy, which received more than $2.3 million in reimbursements from TRICARE through the prescriptions Perry and Dr. Albert Diaz signed, according to court documents.

Perry, of Grand Bay, Alabama, additionally was accused of soliciting two unnamed employees at her Immediate Family Clinic in Biloxi to help her identify potential beneficiaries for the compounded medications, failing to examine the patients on occasion.

She allegedly received more than $50,000 in kickbacks.

Diaz, 78, who was convicted in March on all 16 counts of his indictment, did not receive anything for his role in the scheme.

He received a 3½-year prison sentence on June 7, and will be ordered to pay restitution, the amount to be determined at a later date.

Of the 12 people charged in the scheme, eight have pleaded guilty. A ninth was convicted by a jury. Three others are set to stand trial in January.